Significant Changes Coming to Diablo III's Skills and Runestones in Beta Patch 13
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While the skill system is largely unchanged save for some UI improvements and the helpful new (but optional) skill categories, we've been working to make some rather intense changes to the runestone system. Before we get too far, it's probably best to clarify our terms: First, they're now called skill runes, and they're called skill runes because they're no longer a physical item, but built directly into the skill system. Let's back up, though, and go through some of the problems we were encountering and how this final design is intended to resolve those issues.
Our goal with the rune system has always been to provide additional character customization by allowing players to augment or completely alter their skills in new and significant ways. Originally, we tied this in to the itemization system because it felt like a good fit, as Diablo is all about the item drops. But with around 120 base skills, that meant there were around 600 rune variants; on top of that, each variant had five quality levels each, meaning ultimately there would be something like 3,000 different runes in the game. and we knew we were heading toward a problem.
Diablo is certainly about the items, but later in the game, having to juggle all of those various runes was not only un-fun, it was a serious and tedious inventory problem. We went through a number of different iterations, some of which we fully implemented and tested, to try to solve these fundamental issues while still keeping the customization intact. Ultimately we developed, implemented, and have been playing and testing a new system which we're confident hits all of the desired mechanics and solves all of the related issues and that's what I'm going to talk about today and what you'll see in Beta patch 13.
With the new skill rune system, you'll be unlocking new skills as you level up just like you always have. but in addition you'll also be unlocking skill runes. Now, when you open the skill window, you'll choose which skills you want in which slots, the skill rune variants you'd like, and your passives. All of this is done directly through the UI, and all of the options from the skill, skill rune, and passive systems are unlocked through character leveling progression, leading to a cleaner overall integration of these systems. Just as we set different skills to unlock at specific levels, skill rune choices unlock at different levels as well.
Another thing we strive for in our games is (concentrated coolness,) and while rune quality levels made sense when we were attempting to itemize them throughout the game, they make far less sense as runes are unlocked through the UI. We didn't want to get back into a situation where you're clicking a button to pump points into skills. It's far more concentrated (and cool) when your rune choices have a single and powerful benefit to your skill choice. The new skill rune system does not have ranks, and we've instead made each around the equivalent to what the rank 4 or 5 rune was previously. One click, you make your rune choice, and you get an explosive benefit to that skill. That feels a lot cooler.
